The iPhone 5 is also on the shopping list of 71 percent of iPhone 3GS owners, 64 percent of iPhone 4S owners, 38 percent of Blackberry owners, and 22 percent of Android owners, all of whom plan to switch from their current handsets. The poll further discovered that 32 percent of people who don't own a smartphone will opt for Apple's next flagship phone.

Among those who have the new iPhone in their sights, 10 percent will wait in line for it on the day it's released. Another 35 percent will buy the phone online as soon as it's available. And 55 percent don't yet know when they'll grab the new phone.

Most people (65 percent) said that they would buy the iPhone simply to upgrade from their current phone. That's compared with 29 percent who said that "no phone compares to the iPhone," 28 percent who just like to buy the latest products, and 14 percent who aim to switch from Android to Apple. As in many surveys, some consumers cited more than one reason.

A full 93 percent pointed to longer battery life, 90 percent chimed in with a faster processor, 83 percent cited the support for 4G LTE, and 76 percent touted the larger screen size.

Asked about possible changes slated for the new iPhone, 79 percent believe the screen will be larger, while 68 percent think the phone will be thinner and lighter.

Looking at the potential cost, 51 percent of those polled believe the new phone's starting price will be $199, the same as the iPhone 4S. But 20 percent think it could cost $249 and close to another 20 percent say it may cost as much as $299 to start.

"When it comes to smartphones, Apple's iPhone remains the leader," Yung Trang, president and editor in chief of TechBargains.com, said in a statement. "What is interesting to note is the survey indicated that one in five Android owners and almost 40 percent of BlackBerry owners plan to ditch their current platform for the iPhone. This could be construed as a commentary on consumer dissatisfaction with Android and Blackberry products or simply a message that the iPhone's user experience remains unparalleled."

About the author

Journalist, software trainer, and Web developer Lance Whitney writes columns and reviews for CNET, Computer Shopper, Microsoft TechNet, and other technology sites. His first book, "Windows 8 Five Minutes at a Time," was published by Wiley & Sons in November 2012.
See full bio